Pictures: Air pollution combined with Saharan dust reaches high levels across parts of the UK

Wednesday 2 Apr 2014 12:52 pm

Air pollution hangs in the air lowering visibility towards central London and the City from east London, on April 2, 2014. Saharan dust mixed with pollution from Europe and the UK has blanketed a large area of the country, raising air pollution levels to dangerous levels. AFP PHOTO/Leon NealLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images

Air pollution hangs in the air lowering visibility in London, on April 2, 2014. Saharan dust mixed with pollution from Europe and the UK has blanketed a large area of the country, raising air pollution levels to dangerous levels. AFP PHOTO/Leon NealLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images

Fog on the Tyne today after 3 days of mist and fog as the rest of the country enjoy the warmer temperatures….PA Photo Owen Humphreys

Dust particles and pollution from cars hangs over London, seen from Greenwich, as people suffering the effects of high levels of pollution – including sore eyes, coughs and sore throats – should cut down the amount of activity they take outside, experts have warned. The advice, from Public Health England (PHE), Asthma UK and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), comes after a warning that people in parts of England should be braced for the highest level of air pollution recorded by Defra. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Air pollution hangs in the air lowering visibility towards the O2 arena in London, on April 2, 2014. Saharan dust mixed with pollution from Europe and the UK has blanketed a large area of the country, raising air pollution levels to dangerous levels. AFP PHOTO/Leon NealLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 02: A general view through smog of the Canary Wharf financial district on April 2, 2014 in London, England. Dust from the Sahara combined with pollution from mainland Europe has contributed to one of the worst smogs of the year this week with record levels being recorded in parts of England on Tuesday. The BBC weather centre predicts a potential 8 or 9 out of 10 level of air pollution likely to be found in East Anglia and the East Midlands later today. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 02: A general view through smog over the 02 Arena and the Canary Wharf financial district on April 2, 2014 in London, England. Dust from the Sahara combined with pollution from mainland Europe has contributed to one of the worst smogs of the year this week with record levels being recorded in parts of England on Tuesday. The BBC weather centre predicts a potential 8 or 9 out of 10 level of air pollution likely to be found in East Anglia and the East Midlands later today. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 02: A general view of the City of London through smog on April 2, 2014 in London, England. Dust from the Sahara combined with pollution from mainland Europe has contributed to one of the worst smogs of the year this week with record levels being recorded in parts of England on Tuesday. The BBC weather centre predicts a potential 8 or 9 out of 10 level of air pollution likely to be found in East Anglia and the East Midlands later today. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The Millennium Dome is shrouded in smog in London, as seen from a viewing gallery in the Orbit sculpture during a tour organized for the media, Wednesday, April 2, 2014. British authorities have warned people with heart or lung conditions to avoid exertion as a combination of industrial pollution and Sahara dust blankets the country in smog. The environment department said Wednesday’s air pollution level could reach the top rung on its 10-point scale. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Two apprentices, center and right, who work on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and were on hand for members of the media to interview, take a picture at a viewing gallery in the Orbit sculpture as London’s Canary Wharf business district is shrouded in smog in the background during an Olympic Park tour organized for the media, Wednesday, April 2, 2014. British authorities have warned people with heart or lung conditions to avoid exertion as a combination of industrial pollution and Sahara dust blankets the country in smog. The environment department said Wednesday’s air pollution level could reach the top rung on its 10-point scale. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Smog has been hanging over London and most of Britain for two days (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

A viewing gallery in the Orbit sculpture at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford Picture: AP)

Fog on the Tyne today after 3 days of mist and fog as the rest of the country enjoy the warmer temperatures….PA Photo Owen Humphreys

Dust particles and pollution from cars hangs over London, seen from Greenwich, as people suffering the effects of high levels of pollution – including sore eyes, coughs and sore throats – should cut down the amount of activity they take outside, experts have warned. The advice, from Public Health England (PHE), Asthma UK and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), comes after a warning that people in parts of England should be braced for the highest level of air pollution recorded by Defra. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

A general view of haze and smog over the landscape near Hythe, Kent, as health warnings are issued by the government for the high levels of air pollution sweeping across parts of England. The advice, from Public Health England (PHE), Asthma UK and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), comes after a warning that people in parts of England should be braced for the highest level of air pollution recorded by Defra. See PA story HEALTH Pollution. Photo : Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

A general view of Dover Castle, Kent, shrouded in haze and smog as health warnings are issued by the government for the high levels of air pollution sweeping across parts of England. . The advice, from Public Health England (PHE), Asthma UK and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), comes after a warning that people in parts of England should be braced for the highest level of air pollution recorded by Defra. See PA story HEALTH Pollution. Gareth Fuller/PA Wire